Understanding the phenomenon of intersectionality and its effect on inclusion and transformation in the South African legal profession

Abstract

Black female attorneys in South Africa shape their lives through historical, gendered, racial and classist experiences, perceptions, environments and structures. Their intersectional existence is compounded by the patriarchal and gendered structures and processes of law firms, the legal profession in general and society. This study aimed to understand Black females’ lived experiences as products of a multiplicity of identities and structures to ultimately understand how intersectionality impacts their experience in the workplace and why there is limited career progression. Due to the nature of the study and the existence of intersectionality as a social phenomenon, the study adopted an exploratory, inductive, qualitative approach through a phenomenological methodology. A total of 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Black female attorneys in South Africa. The findings lead to the proposal of a conceptual model that can be used by organisations, such as law firms, to recognise the impact that a lack of intersectionality has on its staff and their career progression. This model also offers a hypothesised positive impact that understanding intersectionality may provide.